

Summer Legal Update – looking back at Spring 2025
It has been a busy Spring, starting with changes to GPhC guidance on distance selling pharmacies, the shock announcement that NHS England will be abolished
We act only in the defence of healthcare professionals. We work with doctors, dentists, pharmacists and all other healthcare professionals. Our team of specialists provides individuals and professional indemnifiers with a first class service of practical advice and representation on all contentious issues. We have exceptionally talented and experienced litigators who offer a uniquely personal service. In addition to representation and advice for clinical negligence claims, we provide a broad range of assistance, including risk management, to ensure that our clients are better able to defend themselves against future claims. We are proud to act for a leading medical and dental defence organisation, private hospitals and individuals.
We regularly provide advice, advocacy and support to practitioners facing complaints, disciplinary proceedings, allegations of professional misconduct and other fitness to practice issues, Coroners’ Inquests and Public Inquiries, including full representation with or without Counsel. Other areas of work include Judicial Review, Data Protection, Freedom of Information, Statutory Prosecutions and issues arising from mental health law. Never stuffy and always practical, we work hard to ensure that our advice takes account of the wider professional issues faced by practitioners. We aim to provide a high quality service and exceptional value for money. We combine our sympathetic approach with a determination to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients.
We are listed in the Legal 500 as follows:
Clinical negligence: defendant Clinical negligence: defendant – ranked: Tier 1
But don’t take our word for it:
“Charles Atkins has great judgment and knowledge of medical issues. Iain Pickering is very robust with an uncanny ability to win all his cases. Alison Harden is calm, measured and sensible with excellent judgment. Shelley Boyd is a rising star who knows how to take points very effectively.”
“Shelley Boyd is always on top of tricky cases that often involve complex discrimination issues that overlap with clinical settings. Just as comfortable in the High Court concerning high value clinical negligence claims as she is in the Administrative division.”
“Gordons is a modestly sized firm compared with many of its competitors in the defendant clinical negligence market, but it punches above its weight with the quality of the solicitors employed by it in that sector.”
“Great experience and expertise in the defendant clinical negligence field. All individuals sharp and on the ball.”
“This niche department features prominently on our list to highly commend, for regulatory and claims.”
Matthew Phipps, Senior Clerk, One Crown Office Row, Temple, London.
“Gordons has established an excellent reputation in the areas of clinical negligence, healthcare advisory and regulatory work. Their exceptional team of Defence lawyers still manages to provide a personal service while also handling quality work for healthcare practitioners.”
Paul Barton, Senior Clerk, Outer Temple Chambers, Temple London.
Iain Pickering is named in the Chambers Legal Directory as a leading individual in defendant clinical negligence, and the firm has been described as “highly rated”.
“Very knowledgeable and organised. With good tactical awareness.”
“Charles Atkins is particularly strong, but all at the firm are very efficient and quick on the uptake.”
“The team at Gordons are very hardworking and always on top of their cases. It is a pleasure to work with them.”
“Iain Pickering works hard to get the best result for his client but will be sensible and pragmatic to get there.”
“A first rate team who are the very best at defending general practitioners and privately acting doctors against allegations of negligence.”
“Alison Harden has massive experience and good judgement with a very client friendly empathetic manner. Charles Atkins has superb judgement, communicates well and always secures a good result for this client.”
Their expertise in the clinical negligence field means that they give sensible and pragmatic advice to their clients, whilst remaining extremely sensitive to the clinicians alike. His medical understanding is vast and he is always on top of the detail.”
The clinical negligence team at Gordons Partnership 2020 Limited in Guildford advises medical defence organisations, private hospitals, insurers and individual practitioners, and undertakes a considerable amount of regulatory, disciplinary, professional conduct and inquest work as well as criminal proceedings. Team leaders Iain Pickering and Alison Harden focus on catastrophic injuries and multi-party claims.
Please contact Iain Pickering or Alison Harden for further details
If you need help, just fill out our short form and one of our healthcare law solicitors will be in touch.
It has been a busy Spring, starting with changes to GPhC guidance on distance selling pharmacies, the shock announcement that NHS England will be abolished
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) has released an updated version of its guidance for online pharmacies. This 2025 revision brings greater clarity to the standards
These were the words of the representative from the DHSC who came to talk about the government’s response to the hub and spoke consultation at
The role of physician associates has come under scrutiny after the Coroner’s findings in the inquest touching the death of Emily Chesterton on 20 March
© Gordons Partnership is the trading name of Gordons Partnership 2020 Limited a company registered in England & Wales (Company Number 12464371).
Registered office is at First Floor, 1 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1LF. VAT No: GB 629 857 388 - Site by WBJ Designs
© Gordons Partnership is the trading name of Gordons Partnership 2020 Limited a company registered in England & Wales (Company Number 12464371).
Registered office is at First Floor, 1 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1LF. VAT No: GB 629 857 388 - Site by WBJ Designs
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